Today’s sermon had tears flowing down my cheek. It’s Palm Sunday! It’s the entry of the King, our redeemer!!
But it wasn’t typical Palm Sunday service. This sermon was about expectations. We know the Jesus was and is the redeemer, the King, but they didn’t. The people heard the word that the King was coming. They expect status. They expect a stallion, they expect a king. But God’s way was a donkey and not just a king but The King.
We spend our lives doing the same thing. We expect God to move a certain way, we expect God to show up in ways we define. If there is anything negative, we automatically presume that God isn’t moving. Here’s a secret: God is moving in ways we cannot see, sometimes we have to break in order to be built back up. Sometimes we have to go through things because God is going to use it later. Not only that, but when we define how God should be doing something, we are limiting not only the blessing, and the move of God but also the impact how God can use us to do great things.
God is amazing, but how many of us have expectations of God. We set “standards” and “guidelines”. We set marks to say that if it fits it’s God, if it doesn’t then no way. When Jesus was entering Jerusalem on a donkey the people, stated this didn’t fit their God as they define him. They turned their back on Jesus, not for the lack of belief, but for the lack of fitting their expectations.
I am writing this not because I feel everyone does this. I’m writing this because I’ve done it. I’m writing this because I’ve seen so many people do this, including people I’m close to.
Don’t expect God to move a certain way. As Pastor Tally Wilgis stated today, “You could be in the middle of a miracle.” Just surrender, give up full control. “Expect God to do God’s work, God’s way.” -Pastor Tally.
Tanya Elise 